£600
FREDERICK af CHAPMAN: 'ARCHITECTURA NAVALIS MERCATORIA'
first published 1768 in Stockholm, a loose collection of 37 original engraved plates from the full edition of 62 -- 22½ x 33½in. (57.5 x 85cm.) each; together with an 1808 two-page hand-drawn copy of the original index from 1769; and a collection of engravings on ship architecture, depicting the designs of various warships between 20 and 110 guns, in four numbered folios, some engravings signed F.Ringheim or S.Andersson; list of plates available on request.
(a lot)
From the collection of Thomas Joseph Ditchburn (1801-1870) engineer and shipbuilder, and thence by descent.
Chapman’s splendid publication revolutionized the study of Naval Architecture when it was first published in 1768. It went on to several reprints. Together with its companion volume, the Tractat om Skepps-Byggeriet it had a profound influence on the design of warships in the eighteenth century. During the period of the Russian Wars of 1788-90 it became clear to Chapman that bigger warships were capable of fighting in the shallow Baltic waters and he prepared a series of design proposals for the Swedish Admiralty for vessels of up to 110 guns. Although approved, only their models were ever built, which survive and can be seen in the Swedish Maritime Museum, Stockholm.
Thomas Ditchburn (1801-1870) was a British engineer and shipwright. In 1837 he founded the Ditchburn and Mare Shipbuilding Company with Charles Mare. This went on to become the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company based in Blackwall. His close relationship with Lord Alfred Paget, Equerry to Queen Victoria, probably led to the commission of the royal yacht, Fairy, (see lots 166 and 167) but before that, he had designed and built for Paget the winning iron cutter, Mystery, as well as the Volna for the Grand Duke Constantine and the world's first all iron battleship Warrior.
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